Sorgo-evaporator



(No Model.)

*T. J. PRICE.

0 vaporator.

,No.240,543. Patented'April26Ql88l.

frame 7' and the skimmer A together.

l UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. PRICE, OF MAGOMB, ILLINOIS.

SO RGO-EVAPO RATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 240,543, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed February 26, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. PRICE, of Macomb, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Sorgo-Evaporators, of which the following is a specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view. Figs. 2, 3, and 4. are detached parts, which will be fully described hereinafter.

The novelty of this invention consists, first,

in an automatic skimmer provided with suitable mechanism to elevate it in its rearward movement; second, in the combination of all the mechanism for operatingthe skimmer automatically third, in the construction of the bottom of evaporator so as to form cross partitions and the manner of securing them together water-tight without solder; fourth, in an adjustable heat-regulator attached to the under side at the rear of the evaporator to prevent the sirup from scorching while in the last stage of its concentration.

Similar letters refer to like parts in each figure.

Figure 1 represents my invention in per- .spective, in which A represents the skimmer,

which is operated by the lever-frame r. 0' c are the connecting-rods that connect the lever- These rods are rigidly attached to the skimmer-heads b I) at the front end. The rear end is loosely attached to the outside at the lower ends of the arms of the lever-frame r. In the rear of the skimmer-heads b b are attached the triggers e e, which are provided with a flat spring, i i. At the lower end of these triggers a shoulder, n, is formed. The springs i 1' rest at their lower ends against the insides of the rods 0 0. (See Fig. 3.)

In Figs. 1 and 2, a a a represent the partitions, which are made, together with the bottom, of sheet metal, and each section of the bottom is so shaped and bent at each side that when they are joined together, as shown in Fig. 2, one side of the partition at the top turns over the other, which, when milled down firmly, forms a water-tight joint. Between. the laps 06 is placed a strip of canvas, g, which extends back to and then up between the upturned partitions a a to their upper edge, and when all is riveted solid together it makes the joints water-tight.

The patches J arefltted over the inner end.

of the overlapping edges 6 e, to give strength and durability to the joint.

B represents, in perspective, (see Fig. 4,) the heat-regulator, which is made of sheet metal, and has at each side upturned flanges, which are provided with a series of slots, 8 s s. This heat-regulator is fitted to thebottom of the evaporator at the rear end. (Shown in Fig. 1.) Thenpturned flange y'passes up between the two plates that form the partitions a a. The slotted flanges come up outside and are secured to the sides of the evaporator with suitable nails or screws. The slots 8 s 8 allow it to be raised or lowered, so as to give the proper degree of heat that may be required to reduce the V sirup to its proper density without scorching.

Operation: The saccharine juice is first let into the front or cleansin g apartmentlto be defecated and skimmed, and the furnace is so arranged that the ebullition commences first at the partition, which causes the scum and feculent matterto flow forward and settle on the inclined end R. Then the operator takes hold of the handle a and draws back the skimmer A until the triggers e 6 run into the nicks m m on the sides of the evaporator. (See Fig. 1.) The rear part of these nicks are out wedgeshaped, and when the skimmer-heads M) are drawn past them they press out the triggers e e, which allows the skimmer to fall down into the juice. The operator then runs the skimmer forward to and up the inclined end B and deposits the scum in the gutter P, and in so doing the skimmer has been elevated sufficient to allow the shoulder 42 on the trigger c to rise above the upper edge of the sides of the evaporator. The springs t' i then press the triggers in and hold that part projecting below the shoulder it against the sides, the shoulder at resting on the upper edge, and consequently when the skimmer A is drawn back for another batch of scum it is again elevated, as shown in Fig.1,above the accumulating scum. When the juice is thoroughly cleansed the gate at is raised and the juice is let into the back sections, and the water with which they had been previously supplied is let out at the gate 0, and the fresh juice is let into the front again, as before, making the operation continuous. When the juice is let into the section between the partitions it travels in a transat alternate ends of the partitions a a a.

verse direction, passing through the openings In the rear sections, under which the heat-regulator B is placed, the sirup is reduced to the proper densityrequirod for sirup or sugar, and is let out at the gate 0.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A skimmer automatically elevated in its rearward movement by means of the triggers e e, substantially as shown and described.

2. The skimmer A, head-pieces b b, triggers e e, springsi t, and nicks m m, in combination with the rods 0 c and lever-frame r, all operating jointly together, as and for the purpose structed substantiallyas shown and described, 2 5

for the purpose set forth.

. THOS. J. PRICE.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. PRICE, WM. T. PRIGE. 

